Secrets Vallarta Bay Resort is a beautiful adults-only resort that sits right on the Pacific Ocean in the small town of Nuevo Vallarta, located about 45 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta. It’s not quite as luxurious as its sister property, Secrets Resorts, but it’s still an amazing place to vacation. If you love being away from everything, listening to the sounds of the ocean from your private cabana or hammock and reading a good book while sipping on a fruity drink...then this is the perfect spot for you! If you are looking for an affordable all-inclusive getaway with lots of activities, then this might not be your cup of tea. But if you want to completely unplug and relax in paradise… read on!
Awards and Recognition
Since opening in 2016, this resort has won several awards. It has been named top adults-only resort, top luxury resort in Mexico, top all-in-one vacation, and best non-stop flight from the US. Its most recent award was top global vacation. The resort also received the highest rating from TripAdvisor, as well as being named the most romantic hotel in Mexico.
Best season to visit
If you want to avoid the crowds and high heat, it’s best to visit between October and April. The water temperature is even warm enough to swim during the winter. If you want to avoid the rainy season, which runs from May to August, you can still go, but you’ll want to bring a travel umbrella. Weather in Nuevo Vallarta is almost always sunny, but it does tend to be humid. October and April are considered the least humid times of the year. If you want to avoid crowds and high hotel rates, visit during the low season (May-September). If you can’t avoid the high season, try to avoid weekends as that is when most people visit.
Rooms & Services Available
Amenities
The resort has a wide variety of amenities, some of which are included in the all-inclusive price and some that are not. Guests have the option of booking various excursions on land or sea. You can also choose to rent a golf cart or scooter. You can also take advantage of the fitness center and yoga classes. Other amenities include a wide variety of restaurants and bars, a casino, a spa, swimming pools, beach access, a kids club and nightly entertainment options, including live music, a fire show and a magic show. Some of the amenities that are not included in the all-inclusive price are the spa services, scuba diving excursions, golf course fees, and babysitting services. The resort has a few different types of rooms and suites to accommodate couples and families of all sizes.
Getting there
From the U.S., the easiest way to get to the resort is to fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). From there, it is a short drive south to the resort. You can also fly non-stop from Houston and Dallas. If you are flying from the East Coast, you might want to consider one of the Caribbean islands or Central America as your layover since it is a longer flight. If you are coming from anywhere outside of the US, you will most likely fly into Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and then take a short flight to PVR. If you are looking for an even shorter flight, you can also fly into nearby Nuevo Laredo International Airport (NLD). This airport is closer to the resort than PVR, but it is not very commonly used by US citizens since you need to cross the border to get there.
The Good
The resort has a beautiful beachfront location on the Pacific Ocean. Its grounds include lush tropical gardens and several pools. It is a smaller resort, so you don’t have to fight for chairs at the beach or a seat at the bar. The staff is very friendly and helpful. There are activities for all ages, including a kid’s club and nightly entertainment. All meals and drinks are included in the price. The rooms are very spacious and come equipped with a mini-fridge. The resort has a nice mix of couples and families. It is a great place to really relax and unplug. There are many different excursions and activities you can do on the nearby land or on the water.
The Not-So-Good
There are some negatives about staying at this resort. The beach is beautiful, but it’s not very wide. This can make things a bit crowded during busy times. The water can be murky during certain times of year, and it can sometimes smell a bit like sewage. If you want to swim, you’ll need to do it in one of the pools. The resort does not offer WiFi, so you’ll need to be off your devices for the full two weeks. This is great if you are trying to completely unplug, but it can be a bit frustrating if you have work that can’t wait a few weeks. The resort is not very close to downtown Puerto Vallarta or other major attractions.
Bottom Line
Overall, this is a fantastic resort if you are looking for a relaxing getaway with lots of activities to do right on the resort. It can get fairly crowded during the high season (July-September), so you’ll want to book early. If you want to completely unplug and relax in paradise, this is the perfect spot. If you are looking for an affordable all-inclusive getaway with lots of activities, then this might not be your cup of tea. But if you want to completely unplug and relax in paradise, then this is the perfect spot for you!
